The military high command reported on Thursday that its operations in the Niger Delta region successfully prevented oil thieves from stealing an estimated N4 billion worth of crude oil from Nigeria.
During this period, the military recovered over 6.6 million liters of stolen crude oil, 3.5 million liters of AGO (Automotive Gas Oil), 200,000 liters of DPK (Dual-Purpose Kerosene), and more than 65,000 liters of Premium Motor Spirits (PMS) from oil thieves.
Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, the Director of Defence Media Operations, revealed this information during a quarterly briefing in Abuja, where he provided an overview of military operations across the country from June to August 2023.
He stated, “Troop operations in the South-South geopolitical zone led to the arrest of 6,652,250 liters of stolen crude oil, 3,558,325 liters of illegally refined AGO, 288,650 liters of DPK, and 65,600 PMS. All of this amounted to an estimated N4 billion that was denied to the oil thieves, thereby safeguarding the nation’s economy from these saboteurs.”
Buba also reported significant achievements in various other operations across the country. In the North East, the military eliminated at least 814 terrorists, while a total of 2,328 criminals were arrested during various operations nationwide.
Read Also: ‘I’m well and alive’, Tony Umez debunks death rumour
He stated, “Our operations across the six geopolitical zones from June to August 2023 reveal that we neutralized 814 terrorists and arrested 1,326 criminals. We arrested 42 kidnappers, 231 collaborators, 33 armed robbers, 80 cattle rustlers, 325 militias, 27 rail vandals, 73 gunrunners, 191 suspected oil thieves, and rescued 721 kidnapped hostages. Additionally, 4,560 terrorists and their families surrendered to troops.”
In addition to these achievements, the military recovered a substantial cache of weapons and equipment from criminal elements. This included 501 weapons, 3,577 livestock, 3,269 assorted types of ammunition, and 674 other pieces of equipment.
Buba provided a detailed breakdown of the seized arms and ammunition, which included rifles, handguns, grenades, explosives, and various rounds of ammunition.
He concluded by listing the extensive range of items recovered, ranging from vehicles, motorcycles, and bicycles to communication devices, clothing, and personal items associated with criminal activities.
